Folding market bag



Jan, 27,` 1925.

T E. BAILEY FOLDING MARKET BAG ifea Feb. 1

Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES THOMAS E. BAILEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING MARKET BAG.

Application filed February 1G, 1922. Serial No. 537,103.

To all wlmi/L if; may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Market Bags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a parcel carrier which may be collapsed or folded to occupy less space and to be less bulky and cumbersome than when it is unfolded and extended for carrying or containing a quantity of parcels. The principal object of the invention is therefore to so construct and proportion a bag of this kind that it may be readily folded and unfolded; afurther .object is to provide an. article of this description which is pleasing .in appearance both folded and unfolded, and which is simple in construction and inexpensive.

ln the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of a bag of this kind in folded condition', Fig. 2 illustrates the extended position of the bag on a reduced scale; Fig. 3 is ay View of the bag when folded, on the side opposite to that shown in F ig. 1; and Fig. at is a sectional view of the bag in a partially folded condition.

An empty market basket takes up substantially the same space and is justabout as cumbersome, if not quite so heavy, as ay full market bask-et. The present invention overcomes this objection by providing al bag constructed of canvas, leather, imitation leather, or any other suitable fabric or maferial, in which the receptacle formed by the fabric can be folded or collapsed and held in the latter position so that it will present a smaller and neater appearance, but can be readily extended for filling or using it whenever desired,

This invention comprises a main receptacle 5 formed of iexible material such as can- Vas, imita-tion leather or the like, and the lower portion of the receptacle is substantially rectangular in form. The upper por# tion has its corners 6 inclined inwardly and connected together at the top so that the top is of less extent and presents a smaller opening than the main body of the bag or receptacle. Around the reduced top of the bag is a binding strip 'l' which is sewed or otherwise secured in place and acts as a strengthener or reenforcing strip for the bag.

Extending entirely around the bag from the top to the bottom are two parallel recnforcing strips 8 each intermediate the center and one side of the bag, and these strips extend below the binding strip 7 and are extended upwardly beyond it forming a pair of looped handles l) by which the bag may be carried. As the strips 8 extend over the bottom of the bag they not only materially re-enforce it but directly support the weight which is carried by the handles 9.

it one side of the bag and between the strips 8 is a pocket 10 with bellows sides allowing it to spread outwardly, and with a Hap 11 secured under the binding strip 7 and adapted to close the pocket 10, co-operating devices 12, like a glove fastener, being provided for holding the pocket closed. w

At one side of the top of the bag` is a narrow strap 13 which is adapted to extend over the opposite edge of the bag, and this strap carries a fastener part 14 which engages with a corresponding fastener part 15 on the other side of the bag.

1n collapsing this bag the side fiaps 16 outside of the strip S are folded inwardly at an angle, as shown more clearly in the broken outline in Fig. 2. This allows the lower edges of the fiaps to clear the fastener part 17 disposed just inside of the strip S, so that when the lower portion of the bag is folded upwardly about a central fold line, these fastener parts 17 will engage with corresponding fastener parts 18 at the upper edge of the bag. When folded, the lower edge of the bag is of substantially the same width as the upper edge or mouth of the bag .so that it makes a very neat appearance, and a. pocket Al0 at one side of the bag freely accessible by opening the flap l1 for receiving a purse or other small articles which it is not desired to carry in the bag proper. Of course, in this folded position, small articles may be inserted in the top of the bag as well, without entirely unfolding the bag, but for containing any considerable number of parcels the bag must be unfolded by disengaging the fasteners17- and 1S.

I claim:

1. In a foldable market bag, a pair of fasteners at the lower edge at a distance from the center and outer ends thereof, corresponding fastcnings at the upper edge of the bag, and flaps foldable inwardly at the sides at an angle upwardly on the side of and to clear the fasteners at the bottom lOT) whereupon these fasteners will enga-ge freely7 with the corresponding ones at the top when the bottom of the bag and the folded flaps are folded upwardly, reducing the Width and length of the bag.

2. A folding market bag eomprisin a re- Ceptacle, the bottom of which is su stantially rect-angular in shape and with the upper Corners of the bag turned inwardly to form a top of reduced size, a pair of supporting` straps disposed between the center and outer ends of the bag, extending along the sides and under the bottom thereof and terminating above the top in handle loops, co-operating fastening devices at the top and bot-tom of the bag, the bottom corners of the bag being foldable inwardly and upwardly at an angle to clear the bottom fasteners, and the bottom being foldable upwardly upon the flaps to engage the top and bottom fasteners for holding the bag in folded position, reducing the width und length thereof.

THOMAS E. BAILEY. 

